Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Following a successful three-game road trip, Brendan Batchelor caught up with the Head Coach and GM of the Eagles to talk about picking up five of a possible six points on the road, the approach to the final three games of the regular season and the team's injury issues.

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

This is the first edition of a new weekly feature here on the Eagles Insider where I'll look back at the past week for the Birds and provide some of my own analysis and opinions. If you want to submit questions or comments for me to answer or discuss on "Batch's Breakdown" each week, feel free to do so! You can reach me via email at brendan.batchelor@gmail.com or on Twitter by tweeting @Batchelor1040.

The Eagles went to the island this past weekend for their final out-of-town road trip of the regular season and picked up five of a possible six points with an OT win in Powell River, a tie in Port Alberni and another overtime win in Duncan.

Friday, February 22nd vs. Powell River

On Friday, a visit to Hap Parker Arena in Powell River produced one of the most exciting games of the season to this point. Adam Tambellini shone for the Birds, scoring four goals in a 5-4 overtime win.

Head Coach Matt Erhart decided to split up the tandem of Tambellini and Brady Shaw, putting Shaw back on a familiar line with Michael Stenerson and Demico Hannoun while Tambellini played with Brett Mulcahy and Trevor Cameron. While Tambellini received the praise for his four goal effort (and rightfully so), Cameron and Mulcahy also had very strong performances that really stood out for me. The line was unable continue its strong play throughout the rest of the weekend due to the fact that they were split up because of injuries, but they could be a powerful force come playoff time.

Saturday, February 23rd vs. Alberni Valley

The Saturday night game against the Alberni Valley Bulldogs was by far the most exciting game I've ever had the pleasure of broadcasting. The Eagles never led in the game and had to battle to come from behind in the late stages.

Shaw was phenomenal for Surrey, scoring twice to help the Eagles stay in the game. It looked like the effort might be wasted when the Bulldogs scored on the power play late in the third after a marginal call on Michael Stenerson, but Surrey got their own man advantage and pulled the goalie making it a 6-on-4.

Tambellini tied the game with just 14 seconds remaining, scoring a goal that was, in my mind, the most important goal of the season to date as it forced OT and clinched the division title for the Birds.

Both overtime periods were full of frantic action, but Jay Deo in the Alberni net and Michael Santaguida in the Surrey goal were phenomenal in ensuring that the game ended tied.

On a side note, I really enjoyed the atmosphere at Weyerhaeuser Arena. The fans were excited, the building was packed, and when Santaguida and Shaw were both selected as three stars, the crowd cheered them as if they were their own players. I look forward to the day that I can return there for another game.

Sunday, February 24th vs. Cowichan Valley

Surrey concluded the trip with another overtime win, this time defeating the Cowichan Valley Capitals 4-3. The game was a complete team effort as the injuries sustained earlier in the weekend meant that the Eagles were reduced to 14 skaters.

Both Cameron and Devon Toews spent time playing both forward and defense due to the depleted roster. Brenden Sharp also made his first BCHL start in net for the Eagles and acquitted himself very well, picking up the W.

I was quite impressed by the effort the Capitals put forward as well. They definitely didn't look like a team that is in last place in the league and 11 points behind any other opposition. Cowichan had just come off a pair of surprising victories over Victoria, and they nearly upset the Eagles as well, battling from behind to force overtime. Shaw ended up scoring the winner with a nice shot from the right circle, completing a strong weekend effort that saw him named BCHL Player of the Week yesterday.

Positives from the Week
Anytime you can go undefeated in a three game in three night scenario, the week has to be considered a success. This was amplified by the fact that the Eagles were so banged up. By the time they got to the Sunday meeting with Cowichan, the Birds were missing eight regulars, but they were still able to scrape and claw and find a way to win which really impressed me. Not to mention the fact that Surrey clinched the Mainland Division on Saturday!

I also want to highlight the play of Trevor Cameron. While he wasn't named one of the three stars in any of the games over the weekend, Cameron was the most consistent Eagle throughout the three games, and a number of goals were created because of his second effort and work in the dirty areas. With the playoffs just a few weeks away, the importance of a strong effort from players like Cameron can't be understated.

I was also impressed by Alex Whitwham. The 16-year-old affiliate player from the Greater Vancouver Canadians of the BC Major Midget League had a very solid weekend, providing some quality ice time for the Eagles, particularly in the Sunday game against Cowichan. The youngster has all the tools to be a very strong player in this league in the future and is a very good skater to boot.

The Surrey power play was good as well, operating at 21.42% for the weekend (3-for-14). With a man advantage that's currently ranked 14th out of the 16 teams in the BCHL, the fact that the Eagles appear to be rounding into form on the man advantage is critical at this time of year.

Negatives from the Week
Simply put, injuries. While every team has to deal with players getting hurt, the Birds seem to be suffering all of their injuries at the same time. I guess the positive way to look at it is that they'll have a couple of weeks to get healed up and ready for the playoffs, but if the rash of injured players continues, it could be a very worrying prospect with the post-season close at hand.

The Birds also gave up a couple of two-goal leads which forced them to play beyond 60 minutes. Surrey led 2-0 in the second period in Powell River, but a couple of defensive miscues allowed the Kings back into the game. It was the same story on Sunday against the Capitals. The Eagles led 3-1 early in the third, but Cowichan was able to force overtime. You may be able to chalk up the blown leads to the injury problems as Surrey has been very strong when playing with the lead to this point in the season, but it's needless to say that you don't want to be giving up two goal leads in a few weeks time when the games really matter.

Monday, February 25, 2013

The good news keeps on rolling in for the Birds as Brady Shaw was named the Gongshow BCHL Player of the Week on Monday. Adam Tambellini was also listed under the honourable mentions. The two forwards combined for 14 points on the three game island road-trip.

Here's the full release from the BCHL:

Surrey Eagles forward Brady Shaw has been named the Gongshow BCHL Player of the Week for the week ending Feb. 24, the league announced Monday.Shaw helped the Eagles earn five of a possible six points on a three-game Island road trip and led all BCHL scorers for the week with eight points. The Ottawa native started off with a goal and an assist and 3rd Star in an overtime win in Powell River, really hit his stride with two goals and two assists and a 1st Star nod in a tie with Alberni Valley and scored the overtime winner plus one assist in a win against Cowichan Valley.The 6-foot-2, 200-pound forward is now second in the BCHL with 36 goals on the campaign, and he leads Surrey with 67 points.Honourable mentions this week:Cowichan Valley Capitals F Jesse Neher (4G 2A, 1st Star, 2nd Star)Cowichan Valley Capitals D Jarrett Brown (5A, 3rd Star)Cowichan Valley Capitals F Kyle Horsman (2G 2A, GWG, OT GWG)Trail Smoke Eaters G Adam Todd (2W, .939 sv%, 2.31 GAA, 1st Star)Langley Rivermen G James Barr (2W, .957 sv%, 1.48GAA, 2nd Star)Coquitlam Express F Adam Rockwood (1G 2A, 1st Star, FortisBC Energy Player of the Game)Surrey Eagles F Adam Tambellini (5G 1A, OT GWG, 1st Star, FortisBC Energy Player of the Game)

On Monday morning, the CJHL released the top 20 rankings for the past week, and the Surrey Eagles sit at #14. This is the third time the Birds have cracked the top 20 list this season. Surrey is the second highest ranked team from the BCHL as the Victoria Grizzlies sit at #10 and the Penticton Vees came in at #15.

Here's the full release from the CJHL:

CALGARY, Alberta (February 25, 2013) – Two western teams are starting to emerge as favorites in their leagues as we are on the eve of the playoffs in some leagues and just days away in others. In the BCHL, the Surrey Eagles are this week's biggest movers, coming in strong at #14 after going unranked last week. The Eagles, led by top NHL draft prospect Adam Tambellini, have had a solid few weeks which saw them climb the standings in the BCHL.Following a weekend when the Eagles took 5 of 6 points on the road, with their single point coming against the Alberni Valley Bulldogs in what some are considering one of the best games in the CJHL this season (a wild 4-4 draw), the Eagles have their foot firmly on the gas pedal. Meanwhile, in the AJHL the Okotoks Oilers continued their strong play and are on a solid 4-game winning streak. In the SJHL, the Melville Millionaires have continued their strong play. The Millionaires are ending their regular season with nine wins in their past ten games and have closed to within one point of Sherwood Conference Champion, Yorkton Terriers.The Minnesota Wilderness have to be considered the odds-on favorite to come out of the SIJHL. They are currently 34 points ahead of second place Fort Frances and outscored their opponents 16-3 in two wins this week. Over in the NOJHL, the North Bay Trappers – who will host the Dudley-Hewitt Cup – appear to have peaked at exactly the right time. They walked away with three wins and no losses this week and move up two spots to #16. On the heels of a 1-1 week, the NOJHL's second place Soo Thunderbirds dropped out of the Top 20 after being ranked #17 last week.The OJHL's Trenton Golden Hawks, who move up 3 spots in this week's rankings, have won the OJHL regular season championship for the first time in franchise history. They will look to continue their fine play as the playoffs begin in the OJHL this week. In the CCHL, Ottawa is hanging on to first place overall in the CCHL with a 2-1 week. However, the Senators will be pushed hard by Carleton Place, Cornwall, Nepean and Pembroke.In Quebec, Collège Français de Longeueil has been tracked down by the Saint Jerome Pantheres as these two clubs remain 7 points ahead of the rest of the LHJAAAQ. Both teams will be looking to become the first Quebec team to win the Fred Page Cup since 2006 when Joliette went on to compete at the RBC Cup.The MHL’s Summerside Western Capitals appear ready to contend for the national championship as host of the RBC Cup. They had a strong 2-0 week and continue bulldozing the opposition in the MHL. Meanwhile, Yarmouth drops two spots this week on the heels of two losses. With just weeks to go before most leagues begin their play offs, the CJHL is seeing great games every night in its arenas across Canada, on the road to the RBC Cup in Summerside, P.E.I. May 11-19, 2013! Next week's rankings will be the final Top 20 CJHL Weekly Rankings for the 2012-2013 season.Top 20 Rankings1. Brooks Bandits (AJHL) (1)2. Minnesota Wilderness (SIJHL) (2)3. Summerside Western Capitals (MHL) (3)4. Dauphin Kings (MJHL) (4)5. Trenton Golden Hawks (OJHL) (8)6. Humboldt Broncos (SJHL) (5)7. Yorkton Terriers (SJHL)(6)8. Winnipeg Blues (MJHL) (10)9. Yarmouth Jr. ‘A’ Mariners (MHL) (11)10. Victoria Grizzlies (BCHL) (7)11. Melville Millionaires (SJHL) (14)12. Buffalo Jr. Sabres (OJHL) (12)13. Truro Bearcats (MHL) (13)14. Surrey Eagles (BCHL) (HM)15. Penticton Vees (BCHL) (9)16. North Bay Trappers (NOJHL) (18)17. Kingston Voyageurs (OJHL) (15)18. Okotoks Oilers (AJHL) (NR)19. Ottawa Jr. A Senators (CCHL) (19)20. Collège Français de Longeueil (LHJAAAQ) (20)Honourable Mention: Spruce Grove Saints (AJHL), Soo Thunderbirds (NOJHL), Georgetown Raiders (OJHL), Saint Jerome Pantheres (LHJAAAQ), and Amherst Ramblers (MHL).About the Top 20 RankingsThe CJHL Top 20 weekly rankings are based upon a variety of factors, including the league in which the team plays, winning percentage, win-loss record, total points accumulated, goals-for versus goals-against ratio, etc.About the CJHLThe Canadian Junior Hockey League is a national organization comprised of all 10 Junior A hockey leagues in Canada. The CJHL represents more than 120 teams and 2,500 players and has over 2,800 former players furthering their hockey careers at the professional, major junior and college level across North America. For latest CJHL news and features, visit www.cjhlhockey.com and follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/cjhlhockey or @cjhlhockey

Sunday, February 24, 2013

Brady Shaw scored in overtime as the Surrey Eagles wrapped up their island road trip with a 4-3 win over the Cowichan Valley Capitals at the Island Savings Centre on Sunday. As a result of the victory, the Birds moved into tie for first place in the BCHL standings with the Victoria Grizzlies, although the Grizzlies have played one less game.

Surrey went ahead early in the first as Michael Stenerson scored for the second straight game, knocking the puck past Cowichan goalie Connor LaCouvee after Trevor Cameron threw the puck to the goalmouth. The Capitals pulled onto even terms in the final minute of the opening frame when Jesse Neher rippled the mesh, beating Brenden Sharp who was making his first BCHL start for Surrey.

The Eagles went ahead again in the second period on a 6-on-5 due to a delayed penalty as Nic Pierog wired a quick shot into the Capitals’ net from the left circle after Drew Best got the puck loose on the end boards and fed to him in front. Sharp stopped all eight Cowichan shots that he faced in the middle frame, and Surrey took the one goal lead to the dressing room after 40.

Less than two minutes into the third, Best extended the Surrey lead when he shoveled a puck across the goal line after Cameron sent the puck to the net from a sharp angle. But the Capitals mounted a late comeback to force overtime. Neher tallied his second of the game just after Stefan Burzan stepped out of the penalty box, and with 2:30 to go, Luke Gordon scored on Sharp after Neher got him the puck in front of net. The Eagles couldn’t retake the lead before the end of the period, and for the third straight day, Surrey went to beyond 60 minutes.

Shaw ended the game on the first shot of the first overtime period when he skated down the right wing and fired a slapper that beat LaCouvee cleanly, giving the Birds the win.

Surrey out shot the Capitals 44-30. Both teams were 0-for-3 on the power play. Sharp made 27 saves for the victory. The Birds finish the weekend with five of a possible six points on the road trip and don’t play again until Sunday, March 3rd when the Capitals visit the South Surrey Arena to complete the season series. The game begins at 4:00pm. For tickets, call 604-531-GOAL (4625).

The Surrey Eagles will conclude their island road trip on Sunday afternoon when they face the Cowichan Valley Capitals at the Island Savings Centre. The game will mark the first meeting of the season between the two teams and the first of two games in a row for the Birds against the Caps.

The Eagles are flying high after clinching the Mainland Division title with a 4-4 tie against Alberni Valley on Saturday night. The Birds have been getting scoring from their top guns of late as Brady Shaw and Adam Tambellini have combined for 12 points in the last two games. The two Surrey forwards are both in the top 10 in league scoring as Shaw has a team best 35 goals and 65 points while Tambellini is a close second with 34 goals and 61 points.

Cowichan Valley has already been ruled out of the playoff picture as they sit 16 points back of the Powell River Kings with only six games remaining. Despite the fact that their season is drawing to a close, the Capitals enter Sunday's action on a two game winning streak, following back-to-back wins over the Victoria Grizzlies. On Saturday evening, the Capitals won in overtime on the strength of three power play goals including the winner, scored by Kyle Horsman. Cowichan has the league's best home power play, scoring on 30.48% of their opportunities with the man advantage at the Island Savings Centre.

Saturday, February 23, 2013

Brady Shaw scored twice and Adam Tambellini netted the tying goal with 14 seconds remaining in the third period as the Surrey Eagles battled to an exciting 4-4 tie with the Alberni Valley Bulldogs at Weyerhaeuser Arena. The single point the Birds picked up with the draw, coupled with Chilliwack's loss to Prince George, clinched the Mainland Division for the Eagles. It's the first time Surrey has won a division title since 2005, and in that season, the Eagles went on to win the Fred Page Cup.

The Birds never led in the game as the Bulldogs jumped out to a 1-0 lead before the midway mark of the first. Tryg Strand scored a garbage goal for his 10th of the year to put the home team ahead, and despite the fact that the Eagles out shot the Dogs in the first, Alberni Valley got to the dressing room ahead by one.

In the second, the Eagles tied the game after a nice play by Shaw to find Michael Stenerson all alone in front of the goal, leaving Stenerson with the job of scoring into an open net. Alberni retook the lead on the power play later in the period when Matthew Hansen scored while Trevor Cameron was off for slashing. The Birds countered with a power play goal of their own when Shaw deflected a Drew Best shot past Bulldogs' goalie Jay Deo for his 35th of the season. Surrey was given a man advantage late in the stanza, but things went south for the Eagles when Evan Tironese beat Michael Santaguida with a shorthanded marker in the final minute to give the home team a 3-2 lead after two.

Surrey fought back once again in the third as Shaw tallied his second of the game after a great pass by Santaguida off the glass that sent the Eagles' forward in on a breakaway, and Shaw made no mistake with a pretty deke to the backhand. The game remained tied until the late stages when the Bulldogs found a go-ahead goal with just 2:28 left in the period as Teal Burns rippled the mesh with a power play marker. Surrey got a late man advantage of their own when Jared Wilson was called for tripping, and the Eagles pulled Santaguida but were unable to score on the 6-on-4. However, Tambellini knocked home the goal that clinched the division for the Birds and forced overtime mere seconds after Wilson stepped out of the box.

Both teams had a number of phenomenal chances in overtime, but Deo and Santaguida both made great save after great save, and the game ended in a tie. Alberni's best chance came when Hunter Stewart was sprung in all alone but couldn't beat Santaguida at the left post. The Eagles, for their part, thought they had won the game at one point when Tambellini appeared to shovel the puck into the net, but after a lengthy conversation amongst the officials, it was ruled that the puck never crossed the goal line.

Alberni Valley out shot Surrey 52-44 including 19 shots in the third period as opposed to six shots for the Eagles. The Birds went 1-for-5 on the power play while the Bulldogs were 2-for-6.

Surrey will conclude its three game Island Division road trip with an afternoon game in Duncan on Sunday against the Cowichan Valley Capitals. The game begins at 4:00pm.

The Surrey Eagles will continue their island road trip on Saturday night in Port Alberni with a match-up against the Alberni Valley Bulldogs. The two teams have only faced each other once this season. The Bulldogs picked up a 5-4 win at the South Surrey Arena back on September 23rd.

The Birds are coming off one of their most exciting games of the season after coming from behind in the final five minutes to force overtime and eventually beat the Powell River Kings 5-4 on Friday. Adam Tambellini had four goals in the win. The 18-year-old forward now has 20 points in 11 games since being acquired from Vernon. Surrey could clinch first place in the Mainland Division tonight, but they would need a win coupled with a loss or a tie for the Chilliwack Chiefs who are at home to the Prince George Spruce Kings.

Alberni Valley has been playing some good hockey of late. The Dogs are coming off a 7-1 win over the Nanaimo Clippers on Friday and have won three of their last four, outscoring the opposition 22-9 over that span. Alberni will face the Clippers in the first round of the playoffs, but the two teams are still battling for home ice advantage. The Dogs currently sit one point back of Nanaimo, although the Clippers hold a game in hand. Alberni is also a strong club at home with a record of 15-7-0-3 at Weyerhaeuser Arena. Evan Tironese is the top offensive threat for the Bulldogs. The native of Qualicum Beach has 54 points in 46 games as a 17-year-old.

Friday, February 22, 2013

It was a good night for Adam Tambellini. The Edmonton native scored four goals including the overtime winner to lead the Surrey Eagles to a 5-4 come-from-behind victory over the Powell River Kings at Hap Parker Arena on Friday.

The Birds had a good start to the hockey game as Tambellini opened the scoring at 13:28 of the first with a wrist shot inside the left post after some good work by both Brett Mulcahy and Trevor Cameron to get him the puck in front of the net. Surrey had a couple of great chances to extend the lead before the end of the opening frame when Tambellini deflected a point shot off the post before Joel Gaudet rung a shot off the iron from the right wing off the rush.

Tambellini netted his second goal on the power play early in the middle frame when he beat Kings goalie Jonah Imoo with a one-timer from the top of the right circle. However, Powell River fought back with a pair of goals in an 11 second span scored by Evan Richardson and JP Villeneuve to tie the game. Before the end of the stanza, the Kings went ahead when Richardson skated into the attacking zone and lost the puck, but Stephen Hiff followed up on the play and wired a shot past Michael Santaguida.

Powell River took a two-goal lead at the 4:13 mark of the third after a deft deflection by Drew Dorantes that found its way into the Surrey net. The Birds remained two goals back until the final five minutes of regulation when their big guns stepped up. First, Brady Shaw scored his 33rd of the year when he cut across the high slot and took a shot from the top of the left circle that snuck across the goal line along the ice. Then Surrey tied the game after Cameron dug the puck loose in the left corner and Mulcahy found Tambellini in the slot for his hat-trick goal with 2:35 to go in the third, forcing overtime.

In the first extra period, the Eagles were given a power play when Luke Ripley hauled down Shaw, taking his fifth minor penalty of the game. On the ensuring man advantage, Tambellini fired a one-timed shot in under the cross bar from the top of the right circle to lift the Birds to the win.

Tambellini becomes the first Eagles player to score four goals in a single game this season. He also moved into a tie with Brady Shaw for the team lead in goals (33). Surrey was 2-for-6 on the power play while the Kings were 1-for-3.

The Birds will continue their Island Division road trip tomorrow when they visit the Alberni Valley Bulldogs. The puck drops at 7:00pm.

The Surrey Eagles will kick-off a three game Island Division road trip on Friday evening with their lone visit of the season to Hap Parker Arena where they'll face the Powell River Kings. The match-up marks the third and final game played between the two teams this year. Surrey won the first game 3-2 in overtime on the opening day of the season, and Powell River came from behind to force a 5-5 tie in their second meeting with the Eagles in December.

With six games remaining in the regular season, the Birds are firmly in control of their own destiny when it comes to winning the Mainland Division as they sit six points up on the Chilliwack Chiefs heading into this weekend's action. Surrey's magic number to lock up the division crown is seven, and two points in Powell River would go a long way towards securing first place. Joel Gaudet and Jordan Klimek have been the hottest members of the Birds of late as they both enter Friday's game on two game point streaks.

Heading into Friday's game, Powell River is looking to bump a two game losing skid after falling to the Alberni Valley Bulldogs 9-1 last Friday and the West Kelowna Warriors 6-2 last Saturday. The Kings sit in fourth in the Island Division with no ability to move up or down in the standings. Powell River will likely face the Victoria Grizzlies in the first round of the post-season. Evan Richardson has led the way offensively for the Kings this season. The 18-year-old forward, who is headed to Boston College next year, has 38 points in 40 games.

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

This week on the Matt Erhart Show, Brendan Batchelor talked to the Head Coach and GM of the Eagles about the upcoming Island Division road-trip, the state of the team's power play and the chance to clinch the Mainland Division crown in the next few games.

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Surrey, BC - Tickets for Surrey Eagles home games for the first round of the Fred Page Cup Playoffs will go on sale on Monday, February 25th at 10:00am, the team announced Tuesday. Surrey will face either the Coquitlam Express, Langley Rivermen or Prince George Spruce Kings in the opening round of the post-season.

The Mainland Division Semi-Final is a best-of-five with the first seed facing the fourth seed in one series, and the second seed taking on the third seed in the other series. The Eagles have already locked up home ice advantage and will host Game 1, Game 2, and Game 5 if necessary. Opening round playoff tickets are $14 for adults, $11 for students and seniors and $8 for children. Fans can purchase tickets to all three first round home games. If there is no Game 5, tickets will be re-assigned to the second round or reimbursed. To purchase tickets, call the Eagles office at 604-531-GOAL (4625).

The Eagles are also offering a special promotion to fans who buy tickets to all three home games in the first round. If fans purchase a ticket to all opening round home games, they will have the opportunity to buy tickets to one of the Eagles' last two regular season home games for 50% off. Surrey's last two regular season games at the South Surrey Arena are against Cowichan Valley on Sunday, March 3rd and Coquitlam on Saturday, March 9th.

The BCHL has released its schedule for the 2013 Fred Page Cup Playoffs which will begin on March 15th.

Here's the official release from the league:

The British Columbia Hockey League has sent out the dates for the 2013 Fred Page Cup playoffs.In the Interior Division, best-of-seven rounds will be played in the semifinals and finals to determine the winner of the Ryan Hatfield Trophy. In the Mainland and Island Divisions (Coastal), best-of-five rounds will be played in the quarter-finals and semis followed by a best-of-seven to determine the winner of the Cliff McNabb Trophy.INTERIOR CONFERENCERound One (Subject to building availability)Gm. 1 Friday, March 15 (@ higher seed) Gm. 2 Saturday, March 16 (@ higher seed)Gm. 3 Monday, March 18 (@ lower seed) Gm. 4 Tuesday, March 19 (@ lower seed)Gm. 5 Thursday, March 21 (@ higher seed)* Gm. 6 Friday, March 22 (@ lower seed)*Gm. 7 Sunday, March 24 (@ higher seed)**If necessaryRound Two (same hosting format as Round One, subject to building availability)Gm. 1 Friday, March 29 Gm. 2 Saturday, March 30Gm. 3 Monday, April 1 Gm. 4 Tuesday, April 2Gm. 5 Thursday, April 4* Gm. 6 Friday, April 5*Gm. 7 Sunday, April 7*COASTAL CONFERENCERound One (Subject to building availability)Gm. 1 Friday, March 15 (@ higher seed) Gm. 2 Saturday, March 16 (@ higher seed)Gm. 3 Monday, March 18 (@ lower seed) Gm. 4 Tuesday, March 19 (@ lower seed)*Gm. 5 Wednesday, March 20 (higher seed)**If necessaryRound Two (same hosting format as Round One, subject to building availability)Gm. 1 Friday, March 22 Gm. 2 Saturday, March 23Gm. 3 Monday, March 25 Gm. 4 Tuesday, March 26*Gm. 5 Wednesday, March 27*Round Three (best of seven)To be completed between Friday, March 29 and Sunday, April 7. Teams will arrange travel dates once the match-up is determined.FRED PAGE CUP FINALS (best of seven)To be completed between Friday, April 12 and Sunday, April 21. Teams will arrange travel dates once the match-up is determined. The Coastal champion has home-ice advantage this year.

Saturday, February 16, 2013

The Chilliwack Chiefs doubled a short-manned Surrey Eagles squad 4-2 at Prospera Centre on Saturday night in the final meeting of the regular season between the two teams. Austin Plevy had two goals and an assist for the Chiefs in the win. The season series finishes tied as both clubs had a record of 4-3-0-1 against each other.

The Eagles found the net first when Joel Gaudet tipped a point shot past Chilliwack goaltender Mitch Gillam for his third goal of the season. But the Chiefs responded, pulling onto level terms just 13 seconds later when Trevor Hills got the puck all alone in front of the goal and beat Michael Santaguida to tie the game. Surrey retook the lead before the end of the frame when Trevor Cameron scored on a wrap around after Gillam turned the puck over in the right corner and couldn’t get back into position in time to make the stop.

Chilliwack came out firing in the middle frame, firing 16 shots on Santaguida, and the Chiefs found their equalizer on the power play. With Jordan Klimek in the box after receiving a delay of game penalty for knocking the net off its moorings, Plevy got the puck in the right corner and threw it to the front of the goal. Unfortunately for the Eagles, Plevy’s pass attempt bounced off the foot of Dan O’Keefe and into the Surrey goal, tying the game at 2-2.

The Chiefs power play struck again in the third when Phil Zielonka buried his 32nd goal of the year with a shot from the slot that got past Santaguida over the blocker. Surrey had a number of chances with the man advantage late in the game, but the Birds couldn’t find a goal, and Plevy clinched the win for the home team when he scored into an empty net with five seconds left on the clock.

Surrey struggled on the power play, finishing 0-for-7, while the Chiefs scored twice on five opportunities with the man advantage. The Birds were out shot 39-27 with the Chiefs firing 32 shots on Santaguida in the final 40 minutes. Surrey played the game with only 14 skaters.

The Eagles will head out on a three game Island Division road trip on Friday, February 22nd when they’ll visit the Powell River Kings. The game will begin at 7:30pm.

The Surrey Eagles and Chilliwack Chiefs will meet for the final time in the regular season on Saturday evening at Prospera Centre in Chilliwack. Surrey leads the season series with a record of 4-2-0-1, and the Birds have won the last three meetings between the teams.

The Eagles are coming off a 3-2 victory over the Nanaimo Clippers on Friday. As a result of the win, Surrey clinched home ice advantage for the first round of the playoffs, and the Birds will now look to lock up first place in the Mainland Division. A victory over Chilliwack on Saturday would go a long way to achieving that goal as the Eagles sit eight points ahead of the Chiefs in the standings. Adam Tambellini has been racking up the points of late. The Eagles forward has points in four straight games since returning from injury, tallying two goals and four assists.

Chilliwack also played on Friday, defeating the West Kelowna Warriors 2-1 despite being out shot 49-35. Since their last meeting with the Eagles on January 25th, the Chiefs have struggled to find their form, losing five of seven games. Nevertheless, a couple of Chilliwack forwards are in the hunt for the Brett Hull Trophy as the league's leading scorer. Luke Esposito sits in second on the scoring list with 67 points while Austin Plevy is right on his heels in third place with 65 points. Langley's Mario Puskarich remains atop the list with 72 points.

Friday, February 15, 2013

The Surrey Eagles clinched home ice advantage for the first round of the BCHL playoffs with a 3-2 victory over the Nanaimo Clippers on Friday evening. After the Surrey win, the season series between the two teams finishes tied at a win apiece.

The Birds controlled the play throughout the first period, out shooting the Clippers 13-3 in the opening 20 minutes. Eagles forward Colton Mackie was knocked out of the game after a check from behind delivered by Nanaimo's Brendan Taylor midway through the stanza. Following the hit, Michael Stenerson immediately dropped the gloves with Taylor. The Nanaimo forward was ejected from the game for the illegal check and Mackie did not return. Despite the Eagles' heavy advantage on the shot clock, the game remained scoreless after the opening frame.

Surrey came to life midway through the second with two goals in a three minute span. Adam Tambellini opened the scoring for the Eagles after Joel Gaudet found him in the slot with a beautiful pass from the left boards, leaving Tambellini to tuck the puck into the yawning cage. Moments later, Devon Toews doubled the Surrey lead when he picked the top right corner of the net with a wrist shot from the high slot. The Birds went ahead 3-0 before the end of the frame when Brett Mulcahy netted his 17th of the year after a nice feed from Dan O'Keefe.

Reid Sturos started a comeback attempt for the Clippers in the third when he put the visitors on the board, knocking a rebound past Michael Santaguida just 4:25 into the period. Nanaimo pulled to within one moments after the eight minute mark when Greg Fraser buried the rebound of a Sturos shot on the power play to make it 3-2. The Clippers nearly tied the game mere seconds after their second goal. Santaguida came out of the crease to play the puck and couldn't reach it before Fraser who tried a wrap around, but the Surrey net minder dove back across the crease to rob the Clippers forward at the far post. Nanaimo pushed for the tying goal late in the game, but they couldn't find the net for a third time, and the Eagles skated away with the win.

The Birds were unable to score on the power play, going 0-for-4, while Nanaimo was 1-for-3 with the man advantage. Surrey out shot the Clippers 38-25. Santaguida made 23 saves in the Eagles' goal for his league leading 26th victory of the year.

Surrey gets right back at it on Saturday evening with a visit to Prospera Centre to face the Chilliwack Chiefs. The game gets underway at 7:00pm.

The Surrey Eagles will face the Nanaimo Clippers in the second and final meeting between the two teams this season on Friday evening. The game marks the only visit to the South Surrey Arena for the Clippers this season. Nanaimo took the first game in the season series, winning 5-2 at Frank Crane Arena on December 9th.

Last weekend, the Eagles picked up five of a possible six points with two wins and an overtime loss in three games against divisional opponents Prince George, Coquitlam and Langley. Including Friday's game, the Birds will play Island Division opponents in five of their next six games. Surrey has a record of 2-3-1-0 against teams from the island. The Eagles are just two points away from clinching home ice advantage for the first round of the BCHL playoffs and sit eight points up on the Chilliwack Chiefs for first place in the Mainland Division.

Entering tonight's action, the Clippers sit in second in the Island Division with a record of 26-17-0-3. Nanaimo has already clinched a playoff spot and is also looking to sew up home ice for the first round. The Clips are three points ahead of the third place Alberni Valley Bulldogs and hold a game in hand. Offensively, Nanaimo is led by 20-year-old forwards Greg Fraser, Kyle Kramer and Reid Sturos who have 136 points between the three of them. The Clippers already know that they will have a chance to head to the Royal Bank Cup this year as they are the host team of the first ever Western Canada Cup which will be held from April 26th to May 5th.

Surrey, BC - The Surrey Eagles Hockey Club is pleased to announce that Pro4 Sports has joined the team's current group of investors and will be contributing to the business management of the team going forward.

"I’m excited to welcome Pro4 Sports to our current ownership group," said Eagles majority owner Chuck Westgard. "Their presence in the community, business acumen and hockey knowledge will bring a new element to the team that will take us to the next level."

"I’m thrilled to have Pro4 join our team," said Eagles Director of Business Operations Sharon Anderson. "Not only has our staff tripled which allows us to accomplish more of our goals in the community and with our business partners, but the team at Pro4 brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to our Eagles family."

Pro4 Sports is home to Vancouver's premiere athlete development centre. Based at the Great Pacific Forum in Delta, Pro4 has an 8,000 square foot facility and an experienced training staff including former Eagles forward Scott May. On top of their contributions to the team's business operations, Pro4 will also help with the Eagles' hockey camps and schools going forward.

"We are excited to join the current ownership group to assist with the team's operations," said Pro4 Sports CEO Brady Robinson. "We encourage everyone to look into Pro4 Sports to see the experience and expertise that our staff has and what we will bring to the Surrey Eagles organization."

For more information on Pro4 Sports, visit their website by clicking here.

On the latest episode of the Matt Erhart Show, the Head Coach and GM of the Eagles chatted with Brendan Batchelor about the team's last three games against Prince George, Coquitlam and Langley, Brady Shaw's highlight reel goal on Monday and the team's great run of shorthanded play of late.

Monday, February 11, 2013

The top line of Brady Shaw, Adam Tambellini and Drew Best combined for seven points as the Surrey Eagles skated to a decisive 4-1 win over the Langley Rivermen at the South Surrey Arena on Monday afternoon. The win marked the 30th victory of the season for the Eagles who now sit eight points ahead of the Chilliwack Chiefs in the race for the Mainland Division crown.

The Rivermen had the first high quality scoring chance of the hockey game just before the midway mark of the first period when Mario Puskarich picked up the puck at the right circle and fired a wrist shot that snuck through Michael Santaguida and trickled towards the Surrey net, but at the last moment, Craig Wyszomirski pulled the puck off the goal line to keep the game scoreless. The Birds took the lead a few minutes later on the power play when Nic Pierog took a shot from the right half-wall. Langley goaltender James Barr made the save but let a rebound out into the slot that bounced off Kevan Kilistoff and into the net.

Surrey extended its lead early in the middle frame when Tambellini sprung Shaw in on a partial breakaway, and the Ottawa native made no mistake, beating Barr to put the Birds ahead 2-0. Pierog nearly gave the Eagles a 3-0 lead late in the period when he got away on a shorthanded breakaway, but the 19-year-old lost the handle at the last minute and shot the puck wide of the Langley goal.

The Birds would get the 3-0 goal at 3:24 of the third after an amazing individual effort by Shaw who completed a beautiful spin-o-rama move before netting his second of the game. Surrey scored again on the power play later in the period after Devon Toews made a nice pass off the left boards, finding Best in the slot for his 14th of the year. The Rivermen got one back when Puskarich beat Santaguida at 13:08, but that was as close as Langley would come.

Surrey's power play, which had gone 1-for-10 in its previous two games, was 2-for-6 in the victory while Langley was unable to score on five opportunities with the man advantage. The Eagles doubled Langley on the shot clock 42-21. The game marked the final meeting of the regular season between the two teams. Surrey finished with a record of 7-1-0-0 against the Rivermen.

The Eagles will return to action on Friday, February 15th when the Nanaimo Clippers pay their lone visit of the season to the South Surrey Arena. The face-off goes at 7:00pm. For tickets, call 604-531-GOAL (4625).

The Surrey Eagles and Langley Rivermen will conclude their season series on Monday afternoon at the South Surrey Arena in a Family Day matinee game. The game is a potential first round playoff preview. Surrey has already clinched the season series with a record of 6-1-0-0 against Langley. The Rivermen are 0-3-0-0 at the South Surrey Arena this season.

The Birds are coming off a disappointing 3-2 double overtime loss to the Coquitlam Express on Saturday. Surrey led 2-0 after two periods but allowed Coquitlam to come from behind and pick up the victory. Despite the loss, the Eagles remain six points ahead of the Chilliwack Chiefs atop the Mainland Division. Brady Shaw netted his 30th goal of the season in the loss to Coquitlam. It's the second straight season that Shaw has reached the 30 goal plateau after he tallied 33 goals last year while playing for the Express.

The Rivermen are also fresh off a loss after they were shutout 5-0 on home ice by the Merritt Centennials on Saturday. Prior to Saturday's loss, Langley had won two straight over Coquitlam and Victoria. The 'Men currently sit five points ahead of the Express in the race for the the last playoff spot in the Mainland. Langley also has three games in hand, but they won't use one of them on Monday as Coquitlam is in action against Chilliwack.

Saturday, February 9, 2013

For the first time this season, the Surrey Eagles lost a game in which they led after two periods, falling 3-2 to the Coquitlam Express in double overtime at the Poirier Sports and Leisure Complex on Saturday night. Adam Rockwood netted the winner for the home team at 1:50 of the second overtime period.

The Eagles jumped out to the lead in the opening frame when Trevor Cameron made a nice pass out of the right corner that found Brady Shaw in the high slot, and the former Express forward wired a wrister into the top left corner of the net past Coquitlam net minder Cole Huggins. The Birds had opportunities to extend the lead in the first but had to settle for the 1-0 lead through 20 minutes of action.

Surrey extended the lead in the second. After killing off a 5-on-3 disadvantage, Colton Mackie received a pass from Brett Mulcahy as he stepped out of the penalty box. The Surrey native skated in on a partial breakaway and beat Huggins with a shot inside the left post for the shorthanded goal and his sixth of the season. The Birds controlled the play in the middle frame, holding the Express to just five shots on goal while firing 17 shots at Huggins.

The Express pulled themselves off the mat early in the third. Coquitlam captain Malcolm McKinney found the goal with a slap shot from the top of the left circle that eluded Surrey goalie Scott Lapp at 4:32, and just 44 seconds later, Adam Rossignol tied the game for the Express with his fourth of the season. Neither team could find a go ahead goal in the remainder of the third, and the game would head to overtime.

The Birds had the better of the chances in the first extra period, out shooting the home team 4-1, but Huggins turned aside all Surrey opportunities, and in the three-on-three period Rockwood lifted Coquitlam to the victory when he one timed a pass from Marc Biega past Lapp from the left circle.

Surrey finished ahead on the shot clock with 36 shots as opposed to Coquitlam's 22. The Eagles went 0-for-6 on the man advantage while the Express were 0-for-4.

Despite the loss, the Eagles extended their lead on the Chilliwack Chiefs in the race for the Mainland Division crown due to the fact that the Chiefs lost in regulation to the Prince George Spruce Kings on Saturday night. The Birds will return to action on Monday afternoon when they host the Langley Rivermen in a Family Day matinee game. The puck drops at 2:00pm. For tickets, call 604-531-GOAL (4625).

The Surrey Eagles will return to action on Saturday evening when they visit the Poirier Sports and Leisure Complex to take on the Coquitlam Express. The Birds lead the season series with a record of 5-0-0-0 against Coquitlam.

Surrey is coming off a 5-2 Friday night victory over the Prince George Spruce Kings at the South Surrey Arena. The Eagles tallied two shorthanded goals in the victory, marking the only time this season that the Birds have scored more than one goal on the penalty kill in a single game. Adam Tambellini also found the back of the net in his return to the line-up. The Edmonton native missed four games due to injury. Head Coach and GM Matt Erhart reached a big milestone on Friday as well, picking up his 100th victory as a Head Coach in the BCHL.

The Express enter Saturday's action on a three game losing streak after falling to Vernon, Penticton and Langley respectively. Over those three games, Coquitlam was outscored 22-4 including an 11-0 loss to the Vees which marked the biggest loss in Express franchise history. Coquitlam sits in last place in the Mainland Division -- seven points behind the fourth place Langley Rivermen. Unfortunately for the Express, the Rivermen also have three games in hand, putting them firmly in the driver's seat in the race for the final playoff spot.

Friday, February 8, 2013

Thanks in large part to two shorthanded goals in the second period, the Surrey Eagles defeated the Prince George Spruce Kings 5-2 at the South Surrey Arena on Friday night. As a result, the Eagles finished the season series with a record of 4-4-0-0. Michael Santaguida made 32 saves for the win.

The Spruce Kings found the net first inside the opening five minutes of the hockey game when Jeremiah Luedtke picked up his own rebound and scored on Santaguida up high. But the Birds responded when Joel Gaudet rippled the mesh with a shot off the right wing just 14 seconds later to tie the game at 1-1. The Eagles took the lead in the last minute of the period when Adam Tambellini netted his 28th of the season on the power play after a great pass off the left boards from Brady Shaw.

Surrey got into penalty trouble in the second, giving the Spruce Kings four straight power plays, but the Birds came out ahead after killing all four man advantages and scoring twice while short handed. Captain Brett Mulcahy potted his 16th of the season after a good second effort when his first chance didn't find the back of the net, and blue liner Tommy Stipancik extended the Surrey lead when he was sprung on a partial breakaway as he came out of the penalty box and made a nice deke to the backhand, beating Prince George goaltender Kirk Thompson. Moments after Surrey's fourth goal, Thompson was pulled in favour of backup Liam McLeod after allowing four goals on 13 shots.

Prince George tried to fight back in the third, and the Spruce Kings pulled to within two goals when Coltyn Hansen completed a nice solo effort by tallying his 16th of the year. But that was as close as they would come. Shaw would complete the victory for the Birds by tucking the puck into an empty net as time expired to clinch Surrey's 29th victory of the season. The win was also a milestone for Head Coach and General Manager Matt Erhart as it marked his 100th victory as a Head Coach in the BCHL.

The Spruce Kings out shot the Eagles 34-32. Surrey went 1-for-4 on the man advantage while Prince George was 0-for-5.

The Surrey Eagles will face division rivals the Prince George Spruce Kings for the eighth and final time in the regular season on Friday evening at the South Surrey Arena. The Spruce Kings have already clinched the season series with a record of 4-0-0-3 against the Birds this year.

The Eagles became the first team in the Mainland Division to clinch a playoff spot last Saturday after they beat the Langley Rivermen 5-3 on home ice. Since then, the Chilliwack Chiefs have joined the Birds in the post-season, but Surrey remains five points ahead of Chilliwack for the division lead. Brady Shaw has been on fire offensively for the Birds of late. The 20-year-old was listed under honourable mentions for the CJHL's Three Stars of the Month for January after posting nine goals and seven assists in nine games.

Prince George, who defeated Surrey 4-1 in the last meeting between the teams on January 31st in PG, is coming off a 2-1 loss to the Nanaimo Clippers last Friday. The Spruce Kings sit in third in the Mainland Division but have a lot of room to move as nine of their final 11 regular season games will come against divisional opponents. Kirk Thompson continued his strong play against the Eagles in their last meeting. The Surrey native now has an impressive 1.38 goals-against-average and .959 save percentage in seven starts against the Birds this year.

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

On this week's episode, the Head Coach and GM of the Eagles talks with Brendan Batchelor about last week's games against Prince George and Langley, clinching a playoff spot on Saturday and the upcoming match-ups with Prince George, Coquitlam and Langley this weekend.

Surrey, BC - The Fred Page Cup is coming to Surrey this weekend as part of a league wide tour that the trophy will make ahead of the BCHL's Playoffs which begin in March. Fans will have the chance to get their picture taken with the Cup, meet players from the Surrey Eagles and win tickets to upcoming Eagles games.

The Eagles have won the coveted trophy, awarded to the BCHL's champions, three times -- in 1997, 1998 and 2005.

The trophy will be at the following locations this weekend:

Saturday, February 9th - Guildford Town Centre from 10am-3pm.

Sunday, February 10th - Safeway Peninsula Village from 11am-2pm.

Monday, February 11th - Surrey Eagles vs. Langley Rivermen at the South Surrey Arena from 1pm-5pm.

For more information, contact the Eagles office at 604-531-GOAL (4625).

Saturday, February 2, 2013

On a night when the Surrey Eagles officially clinched a playoff spot, the Birds skated to a 5-3 win over the Langley Rivermen at the South Surrey Arena. Brady Shaw, Michael Stenerson and Trevor Cameron each had two points in the victory while Michael Santaguida made 34 saves between the pipes.

Santaguida was called upon to make a number of big saves in the opening frame. His most notable stop came off Matt Ustaski as he pounced on the rebound of a Evan Anderson shot, but the Surrey goalie dove across to the right post to keep the biscuit out of the basket. The Rivermen opened the scoring after the midway mark of the period when Ustaski buried his ninth of the year, but Surrey tied the game just 18 seconds later when Nic Pierog scored with a quick shot from the high slot. The Birds took the lead before the end of the stanza as Stenerson deftly deflected a pass from Shaw between Langley net minder James Barr's legs to put Surrey up 2-1.

Shaw had a great chance to extend the Eagles' lead early in the second period when he dangled into the slot but shot wide of the net. The Ottawa native wouldn't be denied though as he netted his team leading 28th goal of the year at 9:10 to put Surrey ahead 3-1. Langley fought back to even the score with a pair of goals from Mitch McLain and Austin Azurdia, but the Birds responded quickly again as Brett Mulcahy gave Surrey the 4-3 lead 33 seconds after Azurdia's tying goal.

Langley came out hard in the third looking for an equalizer, and the Rivermen had a number of good chances. James Robinson missed the net from in close before McLain was denied what he felt to be a goal when he was tripped up on the rush and slid into Santaguida with the puck ending up in the net. After consulting with his linesmen, referee Mark Pearce ruled no goal, but Langley did get a man advantage as a result of the play. On the ensuing power play, Santaguida made another huge save, robbing the BCHL's leading scorer Mario Puskarich to preserve the Surrey lead. Trevor Cameron would provide the insurance marker when he scored into an empty net late in game to clinch the win.

The Eagles went 0-for-3 on the power play while the Rivermen were 0-for-2. Langley out shot Surrey 37-36 in the hockey game.

The Birds officially locked up a playoff berth on Saturday after the Coquitlam Express lost in Penticton. Surrey also extended its lead atop the Mainland Division to five points, due to the fact that the Chilliwack Chiefs lost to West Kelowna. The Eagles will return to action on Friday, February 8th when they host Prince George. For tickets, call 604-531-GOAL (4625.)

The Surrey Eagles will return to action on Saturday evening as they play host to the Langley Rivermen at the South Surrey Arena. The game will mark the seventh meeting between the two clubs this season. The Birds have already clinched the season series with a record of 5-1-0-0.

The Birds, who sit in first in the Mainland Division with 59 points on the season, can clinch a playoff spot this evening with at least a single point. Surrey is coming off a 4-1 loss to the Prince George Spruce Kings on Thursday evening in PG. Brady Shaw returned to the line-up in that game. The 20-year-old forward missed two games after taking a heavy hit from Chilliwack Chiefs captain David Thompson on January 25th.

Langley sits in the driver's seat in the race for the final playoff spot in the Mainland Division. While the Rivermen are only three points ahead of the last place Coquitlam Express, Langley has four games in hand. Forward Mario Puskarich leads the BCHL in goals and points, but the native of Fort Walton Beach, Florida was held off the score sheet the last time these two teams met -- a 3-1 win for the Eagles on January 26th.

Where: South Surrey Arena

When: 7:00pm

How to listen: Langley Broadcast **Please note that there will be no Eagles broadcast for tonight's game.